Combination aerial and turn indicator



Jan.9, 1945. AP. PFINGSTEN 2,366,871

COMBINATION AERIAL AND TURN INDICATOR Filed June 12, 1941 2vSheets-Sheet i Jan. 9, 1945. AfF. PFINGSTEN 3 8 COMBINATION AERIAL TURNINDICATOR I 2' sheets-sheet 2,

Filed June 12, 1941 urea,

Patented Jan. 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-.1,"

- COMBINATION AERIAL AND TURN v INDIQATOR .A further object of myinvention is to provide a turn indicator which is directly movable topositively indicate directions, and which. can be turned by eitherelectrical or mechanical means.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an arrangementwithout injuring the capacity effect of the aerial and which can be usedon the collapsing type oi aerial either at the Tend thereof, mat a fixedportion thereoi'.

A further object oi my invention is to provide a turn indicator on theaerial for any desired type such as the side mounted type, or that typewhich is mounted centrally and above the forward portion oi theautomobile windshield. A further object of my invention is to provide aturn indicator which is completely visible when indicating eitherdirection. a 1

A further object oi my invention is to provide a the aforementionedobjects in a simple construction which can be manufactured at areasonable cost With these and other objects in view, my inventionconsists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of thevarious parts of 4 my device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter -more fully set forth, pointed out in myclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 Figural is a side elevation oi the turn indicator as attached to anautomobile and the aerial,

Figure 2 is a iragmentary sectional view'tak'en alongthe lines 2-4 ofI'igure'l and showing the arrowintheleitturnposition,

Figured is a. detail oi the electrical arrangement ior operating theindicator,

Figure 4' is a detail oi the mechanical arrangement ior winn theindicator, with a'portion thereoi being taken along the lines H oi rig-Figure 5 is a detail, 1

Figure 8 is a modified form oi the device, Figure 'l is a view oi thecontrol knob' for the mechanical arrangement,

Figure 8 is a modified iorm oi the arrangement as employed in that typeof aerial used on the upper windshield frame, and

Figure 9 is a further modified form.

My invention contemplates principally the provision of an indicatingarrangement, which can be incorporated directly with a radio aerial oithe vertical type. Since this type of aerial is usually alwayspositioned on the left-hand side 01 the automobile or at the center, itcorrespondingly lends itseli'readily toa device oi this character whichisin the proper location.

- I have used the character II to designate generally an automobilehaving the hood ll, iorward wheels I}, and the substantially horizontal:

irame portion 13. The aerial is usually mounted on the portion It,although the same can be mounted at the side oi the automobile, althoughI shall explain the structure as mounted in the substantially ilatportion, it being understood that the same amusement can be employed theside.

The character It designates an outer slightly tapered tube terminatingat I! and which includes the raised bead It, and telescopically en: needwithin the tube II is a 'iurther hollow tube I! which includes theraised bead l8 adapted to be received in the bead i8, therebymain thetube H in locked relation .to the tube It to prevent rotatable turningwith" respect thereto.

Theinner tube 11 which ii desired can'be-made of solid rod is bent intothe'outwardly extending portion II which is attached at to the thinarrow shaped member II which can be of any highly polished material, andwhich also can be painted with a phosphorescent paint which I will glowin the dark, asalso: can betheportion".

The tube It extends into the angularlyextending apron 22 adapted to actas a watershed and also terminates in the portion, which is adapted torotate upon a suitable bearing washer 24 which includes an opening forreceiving the I shai't 28 which shait II extends into the lower squareportion It which is twisted or pitched.

the line of such pitch being indicated by the character 21. The shaft 25passes through theopening a in the insulating bushing a which bushing 18is attached at "to the cylindrical casing 3l,-the casing It beingsupported by means of the lips 32 within a suitable opening .38 whichopeningis drilled intb the portion i3 oi the automobiles: I

Attached interior-l7 oithe casing}! is an u per electric solenoid andalower solenoid 8!, which solenoids receive the compression springs It.Attached'between the solenoids is a fibre or other tube 31 whichincludes the vertical slot 18 which slot 18 receives a pin 39 which pin,is attached to the cylindrical iron core II. The core ll includes anopening which registers smoothly with the pitched portion 28 and 21 ofthe shaft '25.. The lower spring 35 bears against 'an insulating washeriii, and attached at 42 to the bottom of the member 25 is the aeriallead 43 which is slightly coiled the casing and which passes through thebushing 44 to the rai;

The respective solenoids M and 35, each pass to a suitable switch on thedashboard oi the vehiole marked left turn" and right turn, and arefurther connected in the battery circuit. The manner of operation is asfollows: the

arrow members 2! and i9 normally are positioned as in Figure 1 andpointing rearwardly. When the upper solenoid Si is actuated by closingthe left turn switch the iron plunger it is raised within such solenoidand through the engagement right turn, the right turn switch controllingthe solenoid is actuated pulling the plunger ill downwardly whereby theengagement thereof with the portion El will rotate the arrow in theopposite direction as shown by the dotted structure in Figure 2 andindicating a right turn. :2

have iurther used the character to in Figure 2 to indicate the rear andtop of the vehicle, show ing how the arrow will indicate to a reardriver at any position over the top of the vehicle, and

as well, at the side also. 7

The stationary portion is of the aerial can be made slightly taller toinsure visibility at right turn. As it is desired to increase thecapacity of r the aerial, the inner tube H, which as stated heretoforecan be made smaller if such is desired, is pulled out to a raised orhigher position as shown by theiurther dotted structure in Figure 2. Thesprings 36 maintain a balanced position against the core at when thearrow is pointing to the rear in at neutral position and correspondinglycause return of the same instantly when the respective switches areopened.

- The entire casing 3i with its insulated arrangement can be readilyattached to the vehicle since it is formed in acomposite unit. Figures4, 5, and

7 illustrate apossibly preferred form of the device wherein it iscontrolled by a mechanical or manually operated arrangement. In thisarrangement the shaft 25 is attached to the arm as which members aremounted within a c 61 and attached at 48 to the shaft 25 is a torsionspring 49 which is attached to the insulated bottom 50 of the casing 41and at the bottom 45 is attached the aerial lead 43. Pivotally attachedat 5! to the arm 46 is the control wire or rod '2 v which passesthrough'a hollow flexible conduit 53 which communicates at 54 with asmall casing- 55 which is attached at 56 to' the dashboard il of theautomobile.

A circular control knob is is metao short shaft, 59 to which is attachedthe'arm II at the end thereof to which arm 60 is pivotally attached at6|, the other extremity of the control rod 52. At neutral position thearm 60 is as indicated in Figure! and directly horizontal and toward theright, the further dotted structures of the arm showing theleft or rightturn. position. A small pointer 52 isattached to the knob I8 and isadapted to coincide with the character at. 83

I or the character at 64 to show lefthand or righthand turnsrespectively.

The torsion spring 49 is normally adapted to exert its tension againstthe shaft 25 to turn the arrow towards the left. The knob 58 includesthe small raised teat B5 engaged in suitable depressions in thedashboard 51 to maintain the knob in any desired position.- It will benoted that when the pointer 62 is turned toward the left or thecharacter marked 11" or for providing a right turn, the arm in willraise to the upper vertical position allowing the torsion spring l! tocarry apparent.

the shaft 25 so that the arrow is at the leithand position.

Conversely when the arm is swung to the right by moving the pointer 62to the R position the rod 52 will be pulled carrying the arm 46 as wellas the arrow to the right position. This then provides a simplemechanical arrangement for efiecting the turning of the indicatingdevice. Figure 6 indicates a possibly preferred form of the arrangement,wherein it is desired to have the arrow members mounted on a fixedportion of the aerial, in those cases where it is desired to open theaerial to its maximum height, and where it is desired to maintain thearrow in a slightly more rigid condition during all positions of theaerial.

in this form of structure the same arrangement is employed with theexception that the arrow portion is is attached to the'lower tube it,and the upper collapsing members to can be op erated independentlythereof with the arrow thereby remaining in one position vertically.

This form may be the preferred form under certain conditions, althougheither form can be used. Figure 8 illustrates a modification wherein thesame type of casing as illustrated heretofore is used with either theelectrical or mechanical arrangement, and wherein the casing is attachedto the upper forward portion of the windshield 61 of the vehicle withthe controlling cable or wires passing downwardly along the centralstrip 68 which divides the windshield. This type of device conforms tothat type of aerial which is used in this particular location andincludes the substantially vertical portion 69 which terminates in theportion it and the arrow portion ll.

Turning of this type of arrow will also indicate left or right turns andis, completely visible above the vehicle andalso requires no collapsingparts. Figure 9 illustrates a modification wherein an inner male portion12 can be bent into the configuration at it, H, and '55 all made in acontinuous manner from the portion '52 and thereby increasing the aeriallength, with a thin sheet metal portion at 18 being highly polished,etc., and with a series of reflector between the members 13 and 15 toenhance the effect of the arrow at night.

It will now be seen that I have provided all of the advantages mentionedin the objects of my invention with other advantages being readilySomechanges may be made in the construction and arrangement of the partsof my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinventiomand it is my intention to cover by my claims any modifiedforms'oi' structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their; scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a radio aerial of the vertical type forautomobiles having a lower female tubeand collapsible sectionstelescopically engaged therein, an arrow member attached substantiallyat right angles to said lower tube. means for rotating said tube todesired selective position for indicating left or right turns of theautomobile.

2. In combination with a radio aerial oi the vertical type forautomobiles, an arrow member attached at right angles to the verticalaerial. means for rotating said arrow member to desired.

position to indicate left or right turns of the aubuttons 11 attached

